Putter Head

ABSTRACT

The putter head is symmetrical in form, mirrored toe and heel as determined by a center line extending the full length of the putter as shown in the top view. The Putter head has forward weighting achieved by plotting the center of gravity (COG) of the head as a point and assigning three axis lines. A fourth axis, the longitudinal axis of the shaft extending from the grip and remaining straight is then positioned to intersect with the z-axis of the COG as defined in full description by way of a shaft hole which is determined in the design stage. The COG lies between the face and the intersection of said z-axis by the shaft axis. The elevated rear section helps to raise the overall COG to a height at or above the center of a golf ball during the putting stroke. This results in a putter head whose face is predominately parallel with and facing the ground surface when balanced on it&#39;s shaft horizontally suspended so that the putter head can rotate freely. The putter head has the additional features of a double rocker, heel to toe and face to rear, and ball pick up flanges at the rear.

BACKGROUND

Putter heads have previously had several different approaches to weighting. These approaches can be visualized by balancing the shaft in a horizontal position, usually with the hands. This can also be achieved more precisely by setting the shaft portion of the putter onto a small table so that the putter head and the grip are past the edges of the small table top. This allows the putter head to swing freely and come to rest in a repeatable position demonstrating the gravitational force on the putter head in relation to the horizontal shaft of said putter. Although this putter shaft position is parallel to the ground surface rather than predominantly perpendicular as would be used in a putting stroke, it is the common method of determining the balance of a putter.

Previous art ranges from putter heads balancing with the toe down and the face perpendicular to the ground, to so called face balance where the face is up and parallel to the ground surface while the rear of the putter is hanging down. The putter art previously has been dominated with this range of 90 degrees, from face perpendicular to face up parallel to the ground with every assorted angle of balance between these two. All of these have gravitational instability in the backswing as a result. This can be shown with a small table top by laying the shaft on the table so that the shaft can roll freely unhindered by the grip or putter head. Then twisting the grip so that the rear section of the putter head is facing upwards and the face downwards toward the ground as the swing arc of a backswing dictates, and then letting go, so that gravity takes over. The putter head will swing wildly as it comes under the force of gravity before coming to rest. Some putter designs have addressed this gravitational instability by making a putter head with omnidirectional weighting. The putter can be horizontally balanced on it's shaft with the head not favoring any particular direction. This swinging does not come into effect with the omnidirectional weighting, nor with the proposed forward weighted invention described here. While no golfer would raise the putter to a full horizontal position in a backswing, this example does show the gravitational instability inherent in a majority of the previous art.

The putter head proposed here eliminates the gravitational instability by placing the center of gravity (COG) between the face and shaft axis causing a forward weighting. This forward weighting is further refined by intersecting the shaft axis with the z-axis of the COG, producing a putter head with face down, parallel to the ground balance. This differs from omnidirectional weighting by gravity forcing the face of the putter head to face the ground rather than having no gravitational preference.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A putter head with the center of gravity intermediate the face and axis of the shaft. Said putter head to have additional features of a double rocker curve bottom configuration and a ball pick-up and hold rear section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Drawings Page 1

FIG. 1 is a front view of the putter head showing the face, where A represents the x-axis and B represents the y-axis of the center of gravity (COG), represented by point G. The axis of the shaft extending from the grip to the putter head is represented by D. The Front view bottom rocker curve is the line extending between E and EE.

FIG. 2 is a left side view adding the z-axis (C) of the COG (G). Point G can be clearly denoted as a point between shaft axis (D) and the face.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to further emphasize the relationship of A, B, C, and D as they relate to the center of gravity (G).

Drawings Page 2

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the putter face where R is the original position from FIG. 1, while letters Q and S are rocked 4 degrees toward the toe and heel respectively. Bracket area M shows the relatively small potential area of contact with the ground surface.

FIG. 5 is a right side view showing the front to rear rocker, bracket area K and how the curve begins before the intersection of the shaft axis (D) if extended to the bottom of said putter head.

Drawings Page 3

FIG. 6 is a shaded sketch top view showing the ball scooping flanges (N), and the ball holding pocket (P).

FIG. 7 is a shaded sketch perspective view emphasizing the relationship of the flanges (N) to the main body of the putter.

FIG. 8 is a center cut-away right side view showing the flanges (N) are angled in relation to the ground surface (W) so that the ball will rest in the pocket (P) that is produced by the wall of the main body (J) and the angled flanges (N).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The face up balance is a favorite style of balance for many golfers, as these putters create stability through the stroke, usually due to high moment of inertia (MOI) design. The putter head described here is a departure from that logic, as the design is a face down balanced putter. The swing arc of a stroke in golf dictates that the ball lies near the bottom of the swing arc. In putting this means that the face is closer to the ground surface than the rear of the putter head during the backswing. Because the majority of the putting stroke occurs behind the ball rather than in front of it, the improved putter head should balance more solidly, aided by gravity, while behind the ball. A face down, parallel to the earth style of balance achieves this extra gravitational stability.

The description of areas pertaining to the putter head are as follows: The face is the flat surface that contacts the ball and is most fully visible in the Front view. The heel is the area of the head that is closest to the golfer, which has been represented in the drawings from the point of view of a right handed golfer. The toe is the area that is furthest from the golfer, while the rear is the area furthest from the face.

The drawings FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the relationship of the center of gravity (COG) to the face and axis of the shaft. Throughout the drawings, the code letters are consistent in their definition of elements of the putter head described. The letter A refers to the x-axis of the COG while the B refers to the y-axis of the COG. The letter C refers to the z-axis of the COG and is important for the fact that the shaft axis D intersects this axis line.

It is important to note that the shaft axis D refers to the major axis of the shaft extending straight from the grip toward the putter head. Presently many putters have a bend or turn in the shaft as it nears the head, and this turn does not represent the axis of the shaft. Rather the portion that deviates from the major shaft axis should be factored into the COG of the putter head.

In FIG. 1 the front view shows the face outline with A being the x-axis of the COG (G) and B as the y-axis of the COG (G). The shaft axis is represented by D, and is an important tool for balancing the putter head. A shaft is not included as part of this filing, but the axis of the shaft is necessary for balancing. This invention's Forward Weighting is shown in FIG. 2, where the COG (G) lies between the axis of the shaft (D) and the face of the putter head. Gravity therefore dictates that the face of the putter head will have a predominately downward direction facing the ground, while the rear of the putter head will be directed skyward when allowed to rotate freely from a horizontally suspended shaft. FIG. 3 is a perspective view with shading to show how the elements expressed in FIGS. 1 and 2 are spatially related in the putter head.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the double rocker designed to have minimal friction if a golfer were to accidentally catch the ground surface during a putting stroke. FIG. 4 shows that a golfer who is more comfortable holding the club at an angle that differs from the original shaft angle (R) can vary the pitch angle of the shaft from the ground surface plus (Q) or minus (S) as much as four degrees without increasing the potential risk of ground contact, represented by the bracket (M).

The front to rear rocker, FIG. 5 letter K bracket, begins at or before (closer to face) the axis line (D) from the shaft, where if extended, would contact the bottom surface of the putter head as illustrated in FIG. 5. This is a rather small rocker curve leading to the elevated rear section of the invention. This rocker curve, combined with the elevated rear section, functions to clear the putter head from possible contact with the putting surface after reaching the bottom of the golfers swing arc and continuing during the follow through of the stroke.

The combination of these two rocker lines function to reduce the area of potential friction from contacting a grass surface, which can be advantageous on the green. Less potential for friction can be even more important on the longer grass of the apron, or say if the ball is resting at the edge where the apron meets the rough. Additionally, sometimes a golfer might choose to use a putter from the fairway or even the rough rather than chipping. The longer grass offers more chances for friction with the putter head so this double rocker becomes more important in longer grass.

The Double rocker design facilitates more alternative gripping styles as well. Golfers today are experimenting with many different ways of holding the putter while making the stroke. These different gripping styles have previously required changing the putter itself as design elements of the putter head can become a hindrance. The Double Rocker combined with the Forward Weighting produce an extraordinarily versatile putter head.

The putter head from the top view, FIG. 6 shows the rear area of the putter head body following the outer contours while separating in the middle in a fashion that resembles ears on a cat's head. The deep pocket ball pick up consists of two flanges (N) extending inward from the thicker outside edges of the rear section of the putter head. While the thicker outside body edges serve to guide and hold the ball, the gently curving flanges (N) serve to slide under the ball. The flanges (N) are also angled in relation to the ground, FIG. 8 letter W. This combination can pick up the ball off of a putting surface and hold it in the pocket (P) resting between the wall of the body (J) and the flanges (N) as shown in FIG. 8. When the ball is in this pocket, the golfer raises the club in the air to grab the ball with his free hand. This utility is very helpful to a golfer practicing putting. 

1. The putter head consists of a planer face substantially perpendicular to the ground plane for striking the ball, a heel area which is closest to the golfer, a toe area which is furthest from the golfer and is symmetrically mirrored along the center line from the heel and a rear area furthest from the face, a top surface fully visible to the golfer and a bottom surface which is not visible to the golfer at address; there is a center of gravity (COG) and a diagonal hole for the shaft, the longitudinal axis of which is angled between 68 degrees and 76 degrees as measured from the ground plane and intersects the z-axis of the COG at a point that is at least 2 mm and at most 20 mm further from the face than the COG, thereby creating a face down, predominantly parallel to the ground balance when the shaft is held horizontal to the ground, additionally there are two symmetrical protrusions extended from main body to the rear of the club head, further from the face than the shaft hole that are tapered and open between the two, and whose outer edges follow the outline established by the outer extents of the heel and toe while the bottom of the club head is angled upwards between 15 degrees and 22 degrees as measured from the ground plane, starting from a point approximately where y-axis of the COG intersects with the bottom of the club head and continuing toward the rear termination of the club head, raising the overall COG of the club head so that during a putting stroke the COG is at a height equal to or higher than the center of a golf ball.
 2. The putter head as in claim 1, has curved rocker lines along the bottom surface on both the face, visible in front view and front to rear visible in the side view, the two rockers curves having separate function and combined functions; the convex bottom rocker curve in the front view is based on an arc whose center is directly above the center line having a radius of more than 200 mm and less than 280 mm that facilitates different shaft angles employed by a golfer, relative to the ground plane while setting up for a putting stroke without creating a higher incidence of ground contact and a front to rear rocker curve or bend that begins at the approximate intersection of the y-axis of the COG which if extended would contact the bottom surface of the putter head transitioning the remainder of the bottom in a fairly straight fashion, rising at an angle of between 15 degrees and 22 degrees in relation to the ground plane until terminating at the rear. 